Southern Bantu languages
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| Southern Bantu | |
|---|---|
| Geographic distribution: |
South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Mozambique |
| Linguistic classification: | Niger–Congo |
| Subdivisions: |
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The Southern Bantu languages are large group of Bantu languages, largely validated in Janson (1991/92). They are nearly synonymous with Guthrie's Bantu zone S, apart from the exclusion of Shona and the inclusion of Makua. They include all of the important Bantu languages of South Africa, Botswana, and Mozambique.
[edit] Languages
Language groups are followed by their code in the Guthrie classification.
- Makua (P30) [see]
- Chopi ? (S60): Chopi, Tonga
- Nguni languages (S40)
- Zunda: *Xhosa, *Zulu, *Northern Ndebele
- Tekela: *Swati, Phuthi, *Southern Ndebele, Lala.
- Sotho–Tswana (S30 + K20): *Tswana, Tswapong, Kgalagadi.
- Sotho: Birwa, *Northern Sotho (Pedi), *Southern Sotho (Sotho), Lozi.
- Tswa–Ronga ? (S50): Ronga, Tswa, Gwamba, *Tsonga
- *Venda (S20)
The validity of Chopi and Tswa–Ronga as branches is in doubt.
Some classifications prior to Janson added retained Shona as a coordinate branch, along with Nyasa, or excluded Makua.
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